Trusting in God: What do you do in the time of trouble?

Priscilla Shirer states, “You are either coming out of a storm, going through one, or heading into one!”

Mathew 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

 Trust you me, one day one time: The rain will come down, the streams will rise, and the winds will blow and beat against your life. According to Murphy’s law, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” Sometimes this really happens in our life. This is not a cause to be terrified or fearful.

 Choose to be the wise builder in Mathew 7:24-29, who puts his trust in God and his word. He believes in God’s word and practices it. The wise man puts his trust in God. A rock and solid foundation. In the midst of the storm, he remains firm and steadfast. He does not break down or crumble!

One day, life will deal us a blow. It may be in loss of health, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of an opportunity, unfair treatment, persecution, inequality…… Turbulent times will come without a doubt. To think otherwise is to choose to walk on the path of ignorance. There is a time and season for everything under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:….. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,………

To choose to trust God is not immunity from tragedy, loss, or storms. It is a subconscious awareness and assurance that God is in control; He is who he says he is, and he does what he says he will do.

What are some of the things we put our trust in?

• We put our trust in riches.

Proverbs 18:11 (NIV) – The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

Just like the rich fool, we make plans about tomorrow without acknowledging God. We expand the storehouses; we grind and amass wealth while putting God out of the picture. We fail to submit to his will or acknowledge him.

James 4:13-15 (NIV) – Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Unconsciously, we put our faith and trust in many things and not God.

• We put our trust in our positions.
• We put our trust in our strength.
• We put our trust in people. Whoever trusts man is cursed. We forget that people are limited and have shortcomings. God is limitless and never fails.

Jeremiah 17:5 (NIV) – This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Psalm 20:7 (NIV) – Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

On the day of trouble, we run to these “things” or “persons” we have put our trust in only to be disappointed.  On the day of trouble, the wisdom of the wise will be destroyed, the intelligence of the intelligent will be frustrated. The strength of the youth will be useless.

Why put your trust in God?

1. You will never be disappointed. 1 Peter 2:6 (NIV) – For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.“
2. You will never be put to shame. Romans 10:11 (NIV) – As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
3. You will never be shaken. Psalm 125:1 (NIV) Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
4. You will have no fear of bad news. Psalm 112:7 (NIV) – They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
5. You will be as bold as a lion. You will be as bold as a lion like Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the fire. You will be as bold as a lion like Daniel in the lion’s den. Proverbs 28:1 (NIV) – The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
6. Perfect peace is your portion. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) – You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Is there a difference between those who trust God and those who don’t?

Of course! An evident one! As evident in Mathew 7:24-29, the house of the foolish builder fell with a great crash when the rains came. On the other hand, the house of the wise builder did not fall. The word of God is inspired by the holy spirit, and we need his guidance to understand it. It is important to note that both houses were subjected to the same conditions. The results were different. People can be subjected to similar circumstances, and the outcomes are completely opposite. For the foolish builder, the crash was not just an ordinary crush but a GREAT CRASH.

In the midst of the storm, people who have not put their trust in God crumble. The “things/people” they have put their trust in cannot be of help in such times. In fact, some people contemplate suicide and carry out the actions successfully. The enemy/devil whispers in their thoughts that suicide is an easy and fast solution. I personally believe that men become more afflicted by suicidal thoughts than women. This is due to the authority God has given them as the heads of their families. If a man commits suicide due to life challenges, it sets a standard for his seed (children) and his next generations. The standard is that “suicide is a viable option when things get too hard.” This becomes a stronghold in the family. As such, children are bound/likely to commit suicide when things get too hard. It requires the renewal of our minds and deliverance. I will delve deeper into suicide in another post.

Going back to trust, the wise builder is able to muster their courage and endure the hard times and pain because he has put his trust in God and his Word. In fact, the wise builder hears God’s word and does/practices it. It goes to show that he works out his faith through actions. Faith comes by hearing God’s word. The wise builder does not leave it at hearing but goes a step further to do and practice what he hears. Faith without actions is dead. His hearing is accompanied by doing.

Bible Verses For Meditation

Proverbs 3:6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) – The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Prayer

May the Lord God be the safe place you run to in times of trouble. May your faith keep you and sustain you in hard times. In the valley of the shadow of death, may you not fear, for God is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. May he strengthen you and send help when you need it. Because he delights in you, may he deliver you. May you anchor your trust in him entirely. Over and above, may he be glorified in your life.